Central Maine Healthcare

Where You are the Center

Rehabilitation

Therapy Specialty Programs

Orthopedic/Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation: Therapists use a range of treatment approaches to help regain function.  Services include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy and customized home programming instruction for patients recovering from:

Sprains and strains
Tendonitis
Bursitis		Amputation
Arthritis
Headache		Temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction

Back and Spine Care: Physical therapists with specialized training will guide the patient’s active recovery and help them acquire skills for self-management of their spinal conditions:

  • Manual skills for symptom relief
  • Therapeutic exercise instruction addressing posture, range of motion, flexibility, strength and coordination issues
  • Functional restoration and conditioning programming that assists to resume activities of daily living, work activities or recreation
  • Creating a plan for life at home, to optimize recovery and prevent aggravation of the spine problem

Post Surgical Rehab – Continuing Rehab after Hospitalization: Our therapists provide outpatient rehab services to patients after hospital discharge. We support patients following:

Total joint replacement
Surgery for sports injuries
Spine surgery		Trauma rehabilitation
Hand/upper extremity surgery
Reconstructive surgery

CMTS therapists communicate closely with the patient’s surgeon to support an optimal outcome for the patient.

Balance and Vestibular Program: This program seeks to decrease dizziness and improve balance for those who feel unsteady or experience dizziness, positional vertigo, lightheadedness or spinning, or may have experienced a fall.

Work Injuries: CMTS therapists offer services to support the injured worker, which include:

  • Acute injury treatment focused on active, timely recovery
  • Ergonomic review/work risk analysis
  • Education and training to prevent re-injury
  • Work conditioning, restoring abilities to perform work

Hand and Upper Extremity Therapy: CMTS therapists support a comprehensive range of hand and upper extremity conditions including:

Repetitive motion disorders
Post fracture of hand, wrist/upper extremity
Sports injury of hand, wrist/upper extremity
Sprains and strains		Burns
Trauma rehabilitation
Hand/upper extremity surgery
Reconstructive surgery

Treatment services include:

Splinting
Pain management
Joint protection
Post surgical care
Therapeutic exercise to regain range of motion and strength
Work simulation/job task analysis
Scar management
Desensitization
Customized adaptive equipment to support activities of daily living

Lymphedema Management: Lymphedema is the abnormal accumulation of lymphatic fluid under the surface of the skin, causing swelling in the limbs. We focus on:

Controlling or reducing lymphedema symptoms
Decreasing pain		Increasing independence in self-care
Improving mobility
Long term self-management

Treatment consists of:

Lymphatic massage
Compression bandaging
Exercise		Skin care training
Compression garment fitting

Pelvic Floor Rehab – Bladder Control–Incontinence Management: Physical therapists with specialized training provide treatment and training support to women, men and children:

Urinary and fecal incontinence
Urinary urgency
Urinary frequency
Constipation
Overactive bladder		Pelvic pain: difficulty with sitting, pain with intercourse and pain of the hip, lower back and lower abdomen
Pregnancy/postpartum incontinence/pain
Pelvic organ prolapse

Specific treatment and training is identified for the individual patient:

Bowel and bladder training
Biofeedback
Soft tissue mobilization		Pelvic floor muscle training
Planning and support for self-management at home

Swallowing Therapy: Speech pathologists partner with primary care providers to assess swallowing functioning and develop a treatment plan:

  • Exercises to improve muscle control and strength
  • Compensatory strategy training to compensate for deficits
  • Facial, oral and pharyngeal exercise in conjunction with electrical stimulation
  • Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (VitalStim) to retrain swallow
  • Patient training regarding diet consistency strategies to reduce health risks
  • Food preparation instruction

The goal of swallow/dysphagia therapy is to reduce the risk of aspiration and improve swallowing function, allowing the patient to consume food and liquid in a variety of consistencies. Patients may benefit if they have experienced:

Stroke
Traumatic brain injury
Head and neck cancer
Neurological diseases		Respiratory diseases
Facial paralysis
Post polio syndrome

Adult Speech/Language Therapy: Speech language pathologists evaluate and treat adult speech and language disorders, including:

Voice: Vocal changes, vocal cord dysfunction and difficulty with vocal quality and loudness. The goal of therapy is to increase optimal vocal pitch, appropriate loudness, resonance, optimizing breathing style, pacing for speech production and vocal hygiene programming.

Fluency: The goal is to decrease or eliminate fluency difficulties, excessive upper body/ laryngeal tension and provide fluency-enhancing strategies.

Dysarthria and Apraxia: The goal of therapy is to develop functional speech strategies and/or determine if speech-based therapy tools would improve communication, which may include technical augmentative communication devices or speech generating devices. Therapy supports communication skills for home, work and community environments.

Pediatric Speech/Language Therapy: Speech therapists work closely with parents, pediatricians and CDS to evaluate and treat all aspects of early communication skills, including comprehension of spoken language, verbal expression, pragmatics/social language skills, articulation/sound production skills, fluency and voice. The goal is to help children attain the communication skills required in education and social settings.

Osteoporosis Program: Therapists design safe exercise and activity programs to improve an individual’s strength, balance and overall function. A customized home program is designed to help decrease bone loss and lower the risk of falls or fractures.

Neurological Rehabilitation: Our team of physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists work closely with inpatient rehab facilities to support a smooth transition to the outpatient phase of care. Therapy is focused on supporting the patient’s continued effort to regain function:

Brain injury
Post-concussive syndrome
Stroke
Parkinson’s disease		Multiple sclerosis
Spinal cord injury
Other neurological conditions

Rehab programming focuses on enhancing challenging areas of function:

Self-care
Mobility
Cognition		Balance
Communication
Swallowing

You may require a combination of multiple therapies to find relief and restore abilities. Your therapeutic care plan will outline what is needed and evolve to meet your changing needs.

Stroke Care

There are two types of strokes: Ischemic strokes are caused by a clot, and they’re the most common, accounting for 87 percent of all strokes. Hemorrhagic strokes are exactly what the name implies—they’re caused by a hemorrhage (bleeding) into the brain after a blood vessel breaks, an event called an aneurysm. And it’s not an old person’s disorder; 34 percent of strokes happen to people under 65.

Probably the most important point to know about a stroke is that you have to act fast and call 911 immediately. Brain cells will die within minutes, and if you don’t get help right away, the neurological damage could be permanent. It’s a true life-and-death situation, and you need to recognize the symptoms:

  • Sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side
  • A sudden, severe headache
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or inability to understand what you’re saying
  • Suddenly can’t see with one or both eyes
  • Sudden problem with walking, coordination, dizziness or balance.

When it comes to strokes, ethnicity matters: all minority groups are at higher risk of stroke than Caucasians. African Americans have twice the risk of a first-time stroke.  Age is a factor; older people are more likely to have a stroke, especially if they’re overweight, have high blood pressure or heart disease, or smoke.

Risks and Rewards: About 15 percent of strokes are preceded by a “mini-stroke,” or TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack), which means a blood clot temporarily blocked your blood vessels. In this case, clot-dissolving medications can reduce the damage, but only if the person is treated within three hours of the stroke. You can be sure the stroke treatment provided by Central Maine Healthcare is world-class. We recently were awarded the prestigious Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification recognizing our top-quality stroke care. The Joint Commission mentioned our multidisciplinary approach to neurology, and for you that means your treatment covers every aspect of your recovery—speed, compassionate care and attention to every detail.

We also were granted the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s “Get With the Guidelines—GOLD PLUS Quality Achievement Award” for Central Maine Healthcare’s consistent excellence in stroke care, always based on the most current research.

There are 7 million stroke survivors in America today. Central Maine Healthcare treats more than 200 stroke patients each year, mostly through our Emergency Department where we can quickly evaluate and treat your condition. Once you’ve had a stroke or heart disease, your risk of stroking escalates.

Signs and Symptoms

Strokes can come on suddenly. The faster you seek help, the more brain cells you can save. Unfortunately, the damage to the brain caused by strokes can be permanent. That is why a fast reaction may help you or a stroke victim get the right treatment and have a better recovery and prognosis.

Know the Signs of a Stroke: If you notice any of the following symptoms, call 911 or seek emergency medical attention immediately:

  • Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. It is also a major cause of long-term disability. A critical element of a stroke is that impacts the brain, and as the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association note: “Time lost is brain lost.” In other words, brain cells that die cannot be replaced.

What is a stroke? A stroke is caused when an artery that delivers blood and oxygen to the brain becomes blocked or ruptures. Brain cells deprived of oxygen die within minutes. As a result, the effects of a stroke — neurological impairment — may be permanent, since the brain cells cannot be replaced.

A stroke that is caused by a clot that obstructs blood and oxygen flow is called an ischemic stroke. This is the most common type of stroke, occurring in 87 percent of cases. The remaining 13 percent are known as hemorrhagic strokes, which are caused by a blood vessel breaking and bleeding into the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by two types of defective blood vessels: aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations. Aneurysms are vessels that have weakened and ballooned outward; arteriovenous malformations are a collection of abnormal blood vessels that are prone to breaking.

What is a TIA? A TIA is a transient ischemic attack and is also known as a “mini stroke.” It occurs if a blood clot temporarily blocks blood vessels to the brain. Because TIAs precede about 15 percent of all strokes, they should never be ignored. Clot dissolving treatments are available to reduce damage from a TIA but are effective only if received within three hours of the stroke.

Can I lower my risk of stroke? Research indicates that living a healthy lifestyle lowers the risk of having a stroke. This includes:

  • Controlling high blood pressure
  • Not smoking
  • Eating a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet
  • Staying physically active
  • Maintaining a healthy body weight
  • Managing diabetes
  • Moderate intake or abstinence from alcohol

To learn more about strokes:

Treatment

When you have a crisis as serious as a stroke, you want the finest care available. When the Joint Commission recently awarded Central Maine its esteemed Primary Stroke Center Certification, inspectors noted that ours was “among the leading programs in the nation.” That honor was affirmed by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association when they presented us with their Get With the Guidelines—GOLD PLUS Quality Achievement Award for our outstanding stroke treatment. For you, these awards mean you can depend on us for the finest stroke care in the region. If you suspect you or a family member are having a stroke, call 911 immediately.

Fast Action Saves Lives: When someone is having a stroke, seconds count! Our Emergency Department will quickly assess the situation, then they’ll almost certainly administer a clot-busting drug, either aspirin or an injection of TPA to restore the blood flow. Medications might be sent directly to the brain through a catheter in the groin.

If it’s appropriate, your surgeon will perform a minimally invasive clot removal to remove plaque from your arteries. Some emergency treatment also involves an angioplasty—inserting a small balloon into one of your blood vessels to widen it and improve the blood flow. Or doctors might insert a stent, a tiny mesh tube to keep the artery open.

For a hemorrhagic stroke, doctors might give you a drug to lower your blood pressure or reduce pressure on your brain. Another common procedure is “clipping,” clamping your aneurysm to stop the bleeding. “Coiling” is another option, where a surgeon inserts a tiny coil into the aneurysm to fill it and block the bleeding. Radiosurgery sometimes works as well, shooting beams of focused radiation into your brain to repair the blood vessels.

Getting a Diagnosis: Firming up a stroke diagnosis is a high-tech affair. Once the crisis is past, your doctors may want to look at your brain through a 64-slice scanner, a machine that provides faster, higher-res images than less cutting-edge scanners, and shows them a detailed, 3-D reconstruction. With this technology, doctors can identify specific parts of the brain that were affected by the stroke but might still respond to treatment.

You might also undergo a MEG (magnetoencephalography) lab test, a safe, non-invasive exam that measures your brain activity. Over the coming days or weeks, you might receive a 3-Tesla MRI scan, which will track the recovery of your brain tissue to see which parts started working normally again after your stroke.

Stroke Rehab: Once you get past the emergency stroke treatment and you’re stabilized, your neurologist will want your rehabilitation to begin as soon as possible. The faster you start your rehab, the more independence and quality of life you’re likely to regain. Every aspect of your rehab is customized to you, shaped by the collaborations between your medical care team. It’s likely to incorporate these features:

  • Occupational therapy, to help you rebuild skills for performing everyday activities. Depending on the severity of your stroke, you may need to re-learn writing, bathing, dressing and other simple tasks.
  • Physical therapy, to improve your stamina, minimize your pain, build coordination and balance, and regain control of your extremities.
  • Speech and language therapy to strengthen your ability to communicate and, if needed, to swallow.

Most rehab happens on an outpatient basis, available at centers throughout the Central Maine system. We also offer a menu of education options and support groups, both for the stroke patient and their family.

Rehabilitation: The aim of neurological rehab is to get you living independently again as soon as possible. That can be a lengthy process, especially if you have to re-learn basic skills like talking, writing and dressing yourself. At Central Maine Healthcare’s Rehab Center, we provide a long list of therapies designed to get you to the highest possible level of functioning and well-being.

If you’ve had a neurological disorder and think you’re a good candidate for rehabilitation, call: (207) 795-2927.

Types of Neurological Rehab

At Central Maine we can help you rehab from a variety of disorders, including brain injuries, movement disorders, spinal cord injuries, head and neck cancer, and stroke. While the specifics of your rehab program vary according to the disorder and your personal condition, most rehab takes you through your daily functions such as mobility, thinking abilities and communication. For neurological rehab, you may work with physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, exercise specialists, nutritionists and others. They’ll make up your rehab team, and they will stay in close communication with your doctor and each other, monitoring your progress as you continue. Their goal is your smooth transition to outpatient care and independent living.

Pain management is included in many neurological rehab plans, because a number of neurological disorders cause pain and you may not find total relief during your treatment. In this case, you may be referred to CMH’s pain management program, which includes education and education. If you’ve suffered back pain after an injury or spinal disorder, you’ll undergo a program to regain strength, mobility and independence in terms of caring for yourself. Aquatic therapy is especially effective in relieving back pain, with the added bonus of relaxing sore muscles, too.

Other neurological rehab strategies might be new to you, or they could be continuations of your treatment plan, such as relief from stress, anxiety or depression. You might undergo training to regain lost social and behavioral skills, and nutritional counseling to plan meals that will support your wellness.

Rehab After a Stroke

Your after-stroke rehab plan will feature a special set of skills and goals. Many of these are found in other neurological rehab programs, but almost all are likely to be part of your program after a stroke:

  • Motor-skill training: You probably will start a regimen of exercises to improve your muscle strength and coordination, including the muscles involved in swallowing.
  • Mobility training: You may need to learn how to use devices to help you move around, such as a walker, wheelchair or cane. Some patients wear an ankle brace during this phase; it supports their ankles while they get better at walking again.
  • Constraint-induced therapy: It might sound counter-intuitive, but in this therapy, your unaffected limb—say, your left arm if your right arm had been affected by the stroke—is put in restraints. The idea is to exercise your limbs that were affected, without getting “help” from the healthy limbs.
  • Range-of-motion therapy: These exercises show how far you can move your limbs in different directions, and work to increase their range.
  • Electrical stimulus: Small electrical charges are applied to weakened muscles, causing them to contract and respond when they’re stimulated.
  • Therapy for cognitive disorders: This type of rehab is highly personalized, and could include techniques for improving your memory, problem solving skills, social skills and safety awareness.
  • Speech therapy: Many stroke patients need to learn to speak clearly again.

Your rehab might happen at home, in a skilled nursing center, or in an outpatient facility such as a doctor’s office. The sooner you begin rehab after a stroke, the better your skills will be.

Outpatient Therapy

No matter what your outpatient therapy needs, CMH offers the care you need. With a full spectrum of diagnostic, therapeutic and restorative services, our mission is to get you on your feet and back to normal activities as quickly as possible after an injury or illness. Our scope of services also goes beyond care after an acute injury or illness, offering services for patients who need help maintaining mobility and other abilities. All Central Maine Healthcare outpatient therapy services follow nationally recognized best practices for quality care, meaning you can receive the optimal care you need close to home.

Services Available: Every person is unique and distinct, so the outpatient therapy services we offer are, too. At your first appointment, our first step is to gain a thorough understanding of your needs, your medical history and your lifestyle. Based on those specifics, the outpatient therapy team will put together an individualized care plan to help you achieve your goals. This care plan may include:

  • Orthopedic/Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
  • Back and Spine Care
  • Post Surgical Rehabilitation: Continuing Rehabilitation after Hospitalization
  • Balance and Vestibular Program
  • Work Injuries
  • Hand and Upper Extremity Therapy
  • Lymphedema Management
  • Pelvic Floor Rehab – Bladder Control–Incontinence Management
  • Swallowing Therapy
  • Adult Speech/Language Therapy
  • Pediatric Speech/Language Therapy
  • Osteoporosis Program
  • Neurological Rehabilitation

Occupational Therapy

When a person has difficulty performing activities of daily living due to an illness, injury or cognitive change, occupational therapy may provide solutions. Occupational therapy provides personalized guidance and intervention to help patients of all ages and walks of life participate fully at home, work, school or in social situations. For some patients, this will involve working to regain lost skills, while other patients will, with the help of the occupational therapist, learn to adapt their environment. Occupational therapy focuses on offering personalized care to help each patient reach their goals.

What Happens During Occupational Therapy? Occupational therapy sessions vary from patient to patient. Specialists will tailor therapy sessions to you or your loved one’s individual goals and needs. In some cases, occupational therapists help children with disabilities learn to navigate social and school situations. Older adults experiencing physical or mental changes may benefit from an occupational therapist helping them find newer, more manageable ways to complete their daily activities. Or, for patients who have sustained injuries that make performing some tasks difficult, occupational therapy can find workaround solutions to help them improve their quality of life. Occupational therapy focuses on physical, mental and emotional needs of each patient. Specialists work with the patient and family to help build a healthy, sustainable way of life that fits the patient’s goals and needs.

How Is Occupational Therapy Different from Physical Therapy? In short, physical therapy helps improve strength, endurance, range of motion and pain management. Occupational therapy can help with these things, as well, but it also focuses on fine-motor skills, such as moving fingers and toes. It also works to improve patients’ cognitive, perceptive, and sensory-processing abilities, while physical therapy does not usually focus as strongly on these things.

Occupational Therapy at CMH: Our Acute Rehabilitation Center is a 13-bed center that offers high-quality therapeutic care, including occupational therapy. Referrals are needed for admission. To learn more about our Acute Rehabilitation Center, request a tour by calling 207-795-2495 Monday through Friday and 207-795-2600 on weekends.

Contact Us
Bridgton Hospital
25 Hospital Dr.
Bridgton, ME
207-647-6145		CM Therapy Services
690 Minot Ave.
Auburn, ME
207-753-3456		CM Therapy Services
77 Bates St.
Lewiston, ME
207-795-2122		CM Therapy Services
23 Bowdoin St. Manchester, ME
207-248-0500
Naples Physical Therapy
12 Lakes Plaza Dr., Ste 4
Naples, ME
207-693-4202		Rumford Hospital
420 Franklin St.
Rumford, ME
207-369-1099		Turner PT Services
287B Auburn Rd.
Turner, ME
207-225-2610

Physical Therapy

You may think of physical therapy in relation to injury, but it encompasses much more. Physical therapy is specialized to help regain or maintain physical abilities, including mobility, gait and function. Because every injury or illness is unique, a person’s physical therapy recommendations are also unique. A trained physical therapist will recommend a specific and individualized regimen designed to help a patient overcome deficits, reduce pain and improve overall functioning. The physical therapist works in conjunction with other members of a patient’s care team, including their primary care provider.

Why Do You Need Physical Therapy? You might need physical therapy for a variety of reasons. For example, if you experience an acute or chronic injury or undergo a surgical procedure to treat an injury, you may need physical therapy to help you regain strength and mobility in the affected limb. Patients who have experienced a stroke often require physical therapy to help them repair physical limitations that may occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen. Physical therapy can also be prescribed to help a person maintain their current level of functioning. This can be the case when a person has a progressive disease such as Parkinson’s disease, which can affect mobility over time, or when a person’s abilities begin to diminish with age.

What to Expect During Physical Therapy: Physical therapy differs from patient to patient, since therapy is individualized based on their specific needs. At your first appointment, your physical therapist will spend time reviewing your medical history and deficits you are experiencing. Based on this information, they will recommend a specific regimen to help you reach your treatment goals. Your physical therapy sessions will include guided exercises in conjunction with joint mobilization, manual therapy, strength training and, potentially, other types of therapy, including occupational and/or speech therapies.

Recovering From Physical Therapy: Because physical therapy requires you to move your body in multiple ways, it can sometimes cause discomfort. Your physical therapist or medical provider will offer suggestions on alleviating any residual discomfort. Physical therapy also often involves prescribed exercises meant to be performed at home between sessions.

Speech Therapy

Speech and language disorders affect a person’s ability to communicate. When someone has difficulty making sounds, communicating ideas or swallowing, speech therapy could help resolve the problem. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) assess, diagnose and provide a treatment plan for a variety of disorders in children and adults.

Why Do You Need Speech Therapy? Speech therapy can help with several types of impaired speech and language skills:

  • Speech disorders such as apraxia, dysarthria and stuttering cause a person to have difficulty forming words and sounds.
  • Speech and language delays occur when a child’s speaking abilities develop slower than average. This is a common developmental issue that affects up to 10% of children.
  • Language disorders such as aphasia and auditory processing disorder affect a person’s ability to form words or understand and process language.
  • Swallowing disorders, also known as dysphagia, are characterized by problems eating or drinking. These issues may be caused by muscle weakness, issues within the brain or nervous system, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or head and neck cancer.

Speech therapy should begin as early as possible to remedy the issue. Children who receive speech therapy before age 5 typically show better results than children who start at older ages. Adults who have a speech impediment from childhood, or a condition resulting from illness or injury, should seek professional help from an SLP. Treatment can still be effective at a later age, as adults also can see improvement after visiting a specialist.

Getting Ready for Speech Therapy: You will need to request a referral from your primary care provider to see a speech-language pathologist. They will direct you to a trusted, licensed SLP in your area. Be prepared to answer questions, as SLPs ask for specifics so they can understand the complete picture. You can bring a document that lists concerns with speech or language, a timeline of speech development and information about medical conditions that may affect speech. This helps assess the condition and create a personalized treatment plan.

What to Expect During Speech Therapy: Every session varies based on your circumstances. After a treatment plan is created, your SLP will help you decide the frequency, timing and setting. Some SLPs provide group treatment, while others work on an individual level. A session could include activities to practice language skills, articulation therapy or swallowing therapy. A SLP will guide you or your child through the entire process.

Click to learn more about our: Specialty Programs

FAQ – see if your question is answered below:

Will my health insurance cover therapy services? Physical, occupational and speech therapy are usually included under health insurance plans. Before starting therapy services, however, check with your insurance company or ask for assistance from hospital team members. You also need to know whether or not the insurance company requires a referral. CMH accepts most major insurances. For more information call Patient Financial Services at 888-869-3101 regarding payment plans or other assistance with your bill.

I don’t have health insurance. Can I still receive therapy services? Patients paying directly for services receive a same-day, flat-rate discount. We provide an economical treatment plan to keep costs down while obtaining maximal results, and we offer programs for people who are unable to pay for services.

What makes CMH Therapy Services so distinctive? Patients see an experienced therapist who works to help achieve their goals, big or small. We want you to return to life activities as soon as you are able. We offer multiple convenient locations where patients usually see the same therapists at each visit. Your home exercise program is an important part of your recovery, so your therapist will assist you with written instructions.

Research confirms that patients who take charge of their own care achieve the best results with fewer visits, resulting in reduced costs. If patients progress on schedule and are having success with their home program, we may be able to reduce the frequency of visits. We are available during the week by phone or email and will respond quickly to any questions you may have. Let us know if you notice a change that concerns you. Therapy visits last an average of 45 minutes. We strive to keep appointments on schedule and request that you arrive at your appointments in a timely manner.

How should I prepare for my first visit?

Before coming in: We will call you to schedule your appointment and complete a patient intake form over the phone. Other forms can be downloaded from the website [link to this page when it’s updated] and completed to bring to your first visit.
On arrival:
Please arrive 15 minutes early to register and complete any additional paperwork. Our friendly and well-trained front desk team members are always happy to help you. If you weren’t able to complete the medical history form at home, our front office team members can help you complete it and answer any questions you may have. If you have a prescription for therapy, please make sure you bring it to the first visit.

What should I wear? Wear loose, comfortable clothing and exercise shoes. Women with an arm or upper back problem may want to consider wearing a tank top or sports bra. If you have a knee or ankle problem, consider wearing shorts.

Where do I park? Parking is available near the hospital. If you need assistance getting out of your car or to the therapy department, we can have a therapy staff member meet you. Let us know if you need a wheelchair.

What should I do if I have questions that weren’t answered here? Please call us and we will be happy to answer any questions.

Inpatient Acute Rehab

We offer a full spectrum of inpatient acute rehabilitation services designed to help you recover and get back to normal life as quickly as possible. Because no injury or illness is the same as another, inpatient acute rehab is an individualized process. Every patient receives a care plan personalized to fit their specific needs. Your rehab plan may include:

  • Assistance overcoming balance, mobility and coordination impairments
  • Coaching and guidance to perform activities of daily living, such as feeding or bathing
  • Education and resources to help you learn how to deal with a new “normal” as needed
  • Exercises to help regain movement, strength and endurance
  • Guidance related to assistive devices and equipment that may help after you leave
  • Help overcoming communication or swallowing difficulties
  • Training of family members to help with your care or daily activities

Why Choose CMH? When you need rehabilitation, you want to receive that care close to home. CMH offers specialized care to help you regain abilities and maintain function, located in or near the setting you received your initial care. This benefits patients by providing continuity of care, promoting positive outcomes and return to normal activities. CMH believes in the power of family, allowing family members to participate in their loved ones’ care when possible.

Quality Outcomes: You can feel peace of mind knowing that CMH offers rehab services that exceed nationally recognized quality standards and best practices. CMH maintains CARF International accreditation for medical rehabilitation services. CARF is an independent, nonprofit accreditor, which means that our processes, procedures and outcomes have been thoroughly reviewed internally and by an external team of experts selected by CARF.

Our drive for constant improvement is evident in our quality measures. Approximately 80% of our rehabilitation patients are discharged directly back to the community on completion of their rehab program. This speaks to the quality of care and the thorough approach our providers take to identifying and implementing individualized care plans for each patient.

Acute Rehab Patient Outcomes 2023

Discharge LocationTotal # of Patients: 242CMH Acute RehabRegional AverageNational Average
Home or Community19279%76%81%
Long Term Care or Skilled Rehab2711%9%6%
Acute Hospital219%9%9%
Average Length of Stay 13.8 days11.1 days11 days

Source: Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation, Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2023.

Contact Us
207-795-2600		Find a LocationFind a Provider

Rehabilitation and Therapy Objectives: The CMH rehab therapy team realizes that every patient has unique needs and creates programs tailored to each condition. Our focus is on what patients can do — identifying their strengths and maximizing independence — and providing appropriate therapeutic programming. We help with a variety of cognitive, perceptual, communication and physical limitations:

  • Use specialized equipment as needed, and adapt to barriers
  • Adapt to life with disability beyond rehab
  • Address swallowing, feeding and nutritional needs
  • Improve personal care such as feeding, bathing and dressing
  • Increase mobility (e.g., the ability to get out of bed and walk)
  • Overcome balance and coordination impairments
  • Overcome communication deficits
  • Regain strength and range of motion in arms, legs and trunk
  • Teach family members to provide assistance

Swing Bed Program in Bridgton and Rumford: The Swing Bed Program at CMH was created to help inpatients transition from hospital-based care back home. Because these patients are allowed to stay in the hospital as opposed to a skilled nursing facility, they receive care from many of the same providers who treated them while they were ill, providing continuity of care. When you receive our swing bed services, you have access to:

  • A case management team to assist in locating resources and preparing you for discharge
  • Central Maine Healthcare’s extensive network of medical specialists
  • Comfortable, private rooms with bath, shower, cable, telephone and free Wi-Fi
  • Infusion, lab, X-ray, pharmacy and other on-site services
  • Our swing bed medical director and providers on-site 24 hours a day
  • Physical and occupational therapy, seven days a week
  • Speech therapy up to five days a week

Who Should Consider the Swing Bed Program? Patients with a variety of health conditions and needs can benefit from this service. Our different offerings include:

Contact Our Swing Bed Coordinator for More Information:
Bridgton Hospital – 207-647-6052
Rumford Hospital – 207-369-1000

Cancer Rehabilitation

Whether you’ve been recently diagnosed or well into survivorship, cancer rehabilitation can play a vital role in the recovery process. At Central Maine Healthcare, our comprehensive rehabilitation program is focused on helping you manage the effects of cancer and its treatment, so you can get back to doing what you need and love to do.

Dedicated Team, Personalized Plans

Our cancer rehabilitation program includes your own dedicated, multi-skilled team—including physical, occupational and speech therapists, physiatrists, specially trained nurses, dietitians, mental health professionals and more. These experts work closely together, with your oncologists and with you to create a personalized plan based on your unique needs and goals. We’ll also work with your health insurance provider to help determine coverage.

Ways we can help include: 

  • Improving physical strength
  • Managing common symptoms of cancer its treatment, including pain, fatigue and sleep problems
  • Increasing your ability to care for yourself and perform daily activities
  • Adjusting to actual, perceived and potential losses
  • Reducing anxiety and depression
  • Reducing hospital stays

Specialized Lymphedema Therapy

With some cancer surgeries, lymph nodes and the attached vessels may need to be removed. That can sometimes result in painful swelling in the arms and legs, called lymphedema.

Our licensed lymphedema therapists provide a variety of treatments to help control these symptoms, including education, manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandaging, skin care and self-management techniques and appropriate exercise.

Faster Discharge

As one of only three acute rehabilitation centers in the state of Maine, we can provide three hours of therapy per patient per week, which is much more than a skilled nursing unit is able to offer. That means a much shorter average length of stay for our patients. We’re focused on getting you home.

Foot and Ankle Pain

We ask a lot of our feet over the years — from walking to running to hiking and more. In fact, the average person takes about 6,000 steps a day. To put that in perspective, that’s nearly 110 million steps in 50 years.

It makes sense, then, that with all this wear and tear that our feet and ankles often develop problems like shooting pains, stiffness or swelling. Left untreated, the nagging pain can become unbearable and keep you from what you need and love to do.

Relief Starts Here

Whether you’re struggling with recent or chronic pain, the board-certified orthopedists and podiatrists at the Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM) can help. We’ll work closely with you to create a personalized treatment plan, with options ranging from custom orthotics and exercise programs to the latest, minimally invasive surgical options.

Conditions We Treat

Just some of our specialties include:

  • Bone or heel spurs
  • Bunions or corns
  • Bursitis
  • Clubfoot
  • Diabetic foot
  • Hammertoe
  • Fractures
  • Gout
  • Morton’s neuroma
  • Osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis or traumatic arthritis
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Sprained and strained ankle
  • Stress fractures
  • Tendonitis
  • Tendon ruptures

Helping You Put the Spring Back in Your Step

We always begin by listening, to understand exactly what you’re dealing with and how it’s impacting your life. Then together, we’ll find the best solution for your pain, which may include conservative treatment such as modifying footwear, following a specific exercise program and medication.

However, if none of these changes manage or resolve your pain, surgery may be the most effective treatment option for you. At OICM, foot and ankle surgery are generally outpatient day surgeries, which means no overnight stay and quick recovery, so you can get back to your life as quickly as possible.

We also specialize in treatments for foot problems caused by diabetes, a common issue for our central and western Maine communities. That includes surgical (or sharp) debridement, the gold standard treatment for severe diabetic foot infections. The procedure cleans out any dead or infected tissue, helping stop the growth of bacteria and making it easier for the body to develop healthy new tissue.

Orthopedic Excellence, Close to Home

The Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine offers locations near where you live and work – so you never had to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine

Arm and Hand Pain

One of the most common causes of hand and wrist pain is arthritis (including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), resulting in inflammation, stiffness and swelling in the joints. Usually arthritis comes with the wear-and-tear of age, though a sudden and traumatic injury such as a broken wrist or finger, torn ligament or sprain can also cause the condition later. Left untreated, the nagging pain can become excruciating, making it difficult to use your hands and lead a productive, active life.

Relief Starts Here

Whether you’re struggling with recent or chronic pain, the board-certified orthopedic experts at the Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM) can help. We’ll work closely with you to create a personalized treatment plan, whether that’s physical therapy, a minimally invasive treatment or the latest and most effective surgical options.

Conditions We Treat

Some of our specialties include:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Congenital conditions
  • Dislocations
  • Fingertip and nail bed injuries
  • Fractures
  • Ganglions and masses
  • Sprains and strains
  • Repetitive stress injuries
  • Tennis elbow
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Post-traumatic arthritis
  • Tendon/nerve injuries

Skilled Hands to Help Heal Yours

We always begin by listening, to understand exactly what you’re dealing with and how it’s impacting your life. Then together, we’ll find the best solution for your pain, which may include:

Minor injuries: This includes things like strains and sprains. These can often be taken care of by applying ice and wrapping the hand or wrist with an elastic bandage.

Nonsurgical treatments: Appropriate pain medication, anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, and physical therapy are all nonsurgical treatment options for many conditions — tennis elbow, for example. But, when conservative measures fail to alleviate pain and restore mobility, surgery may be necessary.

Surgery: Our surgeons specialize in a full range of hand, wrist, and elbow surgeries, from hand reconstruction to microscopic repair of nerve injuries. Our goal is to help relieve pain, restore function and helping you get back to what you need and love to do.

Orthopedic Excellence, Close to Home

The Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine offers locations near where you live and work – so you never had to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine

Sports Medicine


Our specialists – including orthopedic providers and surgeons, physical therapists, athletic trainers and more – work closely together and with you to create a personal plan based on your needs and goals. So, whether you’re a weekend warrior or full-time pro, we’ll help you get back in action.

Helping You Reclaim Your Game

Caring for an injured athlete is more than just applying a brace. Our sports medicine providers use hands-on, proven techniques that target the cause of your pain to restore strength, function and flexibility.

Just some of our specialties include:

  • Acute sports injuries: from common sprains, strains and dislocations to more serious conditions like anterior cruciate ligament and rotator cuff tears, and complex fractures
  • Overuse sports injuries: treatment for tennis elbow, stress fractures, shin splints and tendonitis
  • Injury prevention: education and training to improve body mechanics and balance and reduce the risk of getting hurt

Our program also provides team provider coverage for Bates College, and we proudly serve as consultants for high school athletics throughout central and western Maine.

Minimally Invasive Techniques to Help Speed Healing

Whenever possible, we opt for non-invasive treatment, including therapy services regimens. But when surgery is your best solution, we offer the latest options designed with athletes in mind. That includes arthroscopic reconstructive surgery of the shoulder, elbow, knee, foot and ankle, which usually offer less pain and faster recovery versus traditional open surgery.

Non-Surgical Options

Dealing with painful bones or joints can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to interfere with your life. And it doesn’t have to mean surgery.

At the Orthopedic Institute of Central Maine (OICM), we offer a full range of non-invasive options that can help effectively manage or even cure your pain. These treatments are usually quick, easy, virtually painless and involve little to no downtime.

One of our board-certified orthopedic specialists will work with you to find the best treatment for your specific condition. If needed, we also perform a full range of orthopedic procedures, including our joint replacement, using the most minimally invasive techniques available for less pain and faster recovery.

Therapy Services

At OICM, one of our licensed physical therapists can design a regimen that reduces your pain while also strengthening the key muscles that affect your joint. Your therapist can work with you short or long-term to make sure you’re doing specific exercises that increase your mobility and decrease your pain. Common therapy methods include bodyweight and aquatic exercises.

Your physical therapist may also apply ice and heat to your painful areas. Or, they make work alongside your treatment team to suggest ultrasound therapy or other procedures that can increase blood flow to the skin, helping to reduce pain.

Injections

Injections of substances like may be used to lubricate the joint, which reduces pain and improves mobility. These injections are administered in-office, making it one of the quickest and most convenient options.

Medication

Medication, including oral pain relievers and topical creams with the numbing agent lidocaine or bupivacaine, may help control your joint pain. Your provider will work with you to ensure you find the right prescriptions for your individual case to limit side effects and avoid drug interactions if you are taking other medications.

Cortisone Shots

Your provider might also recommend a steroid injection to reduce the inflammation (or swelling) of your joint.

The steroids are injected at the site of inflammation, and usually work to relieve pain within a few days and last several weeks.

 Orthopedic Excellence, Close to Home

Best of all, it’s all offered at locations near where you live and work – so you never have to travel far to find the world-class care you need:

  • Central Maine Medical Center – Lewiston, Maine
  • Bridgton Hospital – Bridgton, Maine
  • Rumford Hospital – Rumford, Maine

Heart Attack

If you think you or a loved one is experiencing a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Do not attempt to drive to the hospital.

Each year, about 800,000 Americans have a heart attack, which happens when the blood supply to your heart is cut off. Having a heart attack is a frightening experience, but the good news is about 85 percent of people survive if treated quickly.

The best cure is prevention: as part of our commitment to cardiac and vascular health, we sponsor wellness and prevention programs throughout the region.

Around 85 percent of heart damage occurs within the first two hours of a heart attack, so be sure to call 911 right away if you or someone you’re with shows symptoms of a heart attack.

Certified for Rapid Response: CMMC’s Chest Pain Center

We are proud of the fact that our CMMC Chest Pain Center, which is part of our Emergency Department in Lewiston, is certified for its rapid-response care. If you come in with chest pain, the emergency professionals in our Chest Pain Center provide the immediate care you need. We treat all patients with chest pain as potential cardiac patients until we determine a definite diagnosis.

If you arrive at our Emergency Department with chest pain or other heart attack symptoms, you will be immediately connected to a cardiac monitor, receive oxygen and started on intravenous lines so that life-saving drugs can be administered quickly if needed. Our experienced emergency professionals conduct diagnostic testing to determine what’s causing your symptoms and once your condition is stable, we connect you with one or more cardiologists for possible follow-up care.

Know the Warning Signs of Heart Attack

It’s important to be aware of the signs of heart attack so that if you or someone you’re with is having a heart attack, you can get emergency care as rapidly as possible. Warning signs include:

  • Chest pain or discomfort that occurs in the center or left side of the chest; it may last for a few minutes or more or it may come and go
  • Pressure or a feeling of squeezing or fullness in the chest
  • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or your back, neck, stomach or jaw
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cold sweat
  • Nausea (with or without vomiting)
  • Light-headedness or fainting

The signs of heart attack may look different in men than in women. Although men and women may both feel chest pain or pressure, women often don’t have chest pain with a heart attack. Instead, they may have other symptoms, such as shortness of breath or dizziness, that are less commonly associated with heart attack.

Keep in mind that your chance of having a heart attack goes up if you have risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes or if you smoke or have had a previous heart attack or stroke.

Learn How We Provide Diagnosis

To determine whether you’re having a heart attack, our chest pain specialists may conduct one or more of the following tests:

  • Blood tests: These tests measure certain enzymes in your blood. For example, high levels of an enzyme known as troponin in the blood can indicate a heart attack has taken place.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): A test that measures heart rate, monitors the heart’s electrical system and provides images of the heart’s structures, assessing heart and valve health and blood flow.
  • Chest X-ray: X-rays may show whether the heart muscle has been damaged.
  • Echocardiogram: An ultrasound test that uses sound waves and the echoes they produce to obtain highly detailed images of the walls and chambers of the heart.
  • Cardiac stress test (also known as a treadmill test or exercise EKG or ECG): A test that measures how your heart performs in response to exercise or stress. This test monitors blood flow and oxygen levels as your heart beats faster and works harder.
  • Nuclear stress test: A test that assesses the blood flow to your heart by taking two sets of pictures of your heart: one set while you’re at rest and the second while your heart is being stressed by exercise, medication or a combination of both. Radioactive material is injected into your vein to highlight healthy and damaged tissue in the pictures.

Get Access to a Range of Treatments

Heart attack treatment varies based on several factors, including the type and severity of the attack and other health considerations. After we determine that you’re having a heart attack, we may provide one or more of the following treatments:

  • Medications: Depending on the type and extent of your heart attack, as well as any other health conditions you have, your provider may prescribe drugs such as anticoagulants, ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, cholesterol-lowering medications, diuretics or vasodilators.
  • Thrombolysis: A procedure in which a clot-dissolving agent is injected to restore blood flow in a coronary artery.
  • Catheterization and balloon angioplasty: A test in which an inflatable balloon-type tool is used to compress plaque against artery walls, allowing increased blood flow. Balloon angioplasty is performed during a catheterization.
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI): Also known as angioplasty and stent treatment, PCI implants a tiny mesh tube in an artery to prevent plaque from blocking the blood vessel. After clearing blockage in an artery, your provider uses a catheter to place the stent in the newly opened artery. The stent helps hold the artery open and reduces the chance that plaque will block the artery again.
  • Coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG): Also known as heart bypass surgery, this procedure is open-heart surgery requiring general anesthesia. During bypass surgery the surgeon removes a piece of a healthy blood vessel from your leg, arm or chest wall to use as a graft to create a new path for blood flow around a blocked artery. One end of the healthy graft is sewn to the blood vessel just below the blocked artery. The other end of the graft is sewn above the blocked artery. Blood can then flow around the blocked area. After bypass surgery, blood moves more freely through the coronary arteries, lowering the risk of heart attack.

Recover with Cardiac Rehabilitation

If you have a heart attack or any other heart conditions, we offer cardiac rehabilitation as part of our Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program. Our cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program that helps you recover with an individualized plan that provides evaluation and instruction on physical activity, nutrition, stress management and other health-related areas as needed. Cardiac rehabilitation can make a significant difference in your quality of life after a heart attack.

  • Coronary artery disease
  • Angina
  • Coronary artery angioplasty or stents
  • Open heart surgery such as coronary bypass or valve surgery
  • Heart failure
  • Heart transplantation

As a heart attack survivor, you will also be invited to join Mended Hearts™, a patient-run support group affiliated with the American Heart Association that offers support and encouragement through its visiting program, monthly meetings and educational forums. To learn more, call: (207) 795-8230.